Simmons vs. Bane: Could make a killing on pay-per-view
UPDATED 10/2/2007: Santoni has an updated version of this story up at examiner.com now, featuring some interesting quotes from Mayor Simmons. more on these quotes later, but be sure to check out the article to see if you are as shocked at them as I am.
Well, the pay-per-view could help pay for Aberdeen’s broken water system. According to an Examiner article by Matthew Santoni today, Aberdeen Mayor Fred Simmons is at it again, this time blasting Harford’s top cop Sherriff Jesse Bane. It seems that Mayor Simmons wants police jurisdiction rights over the Perryman area, especially Perrywood Gardens, a development that despite it’s name isn’t to be confused with Ladew or Longwood.
Simmons claims that his efforts in cleaning up the drug trade within the Aberdeen city limits has pushed the dealers into Perryman, and now the druggies are cabbing out there and bringing it back into the city. Mayor Simmons first requested his police be allowed to go into the area two months ago. Here is an interesting quote from the Examiner piece:
“I’m tired of studying things,” he said, referring to Sheriff Jesse
Bane’s focus on intelligence gathering, prevention and rehabilitation.
Now he is tired of studying things. Maybe he is tired of studying things after two months because it only leaves him with one more month to use as a campaign point? Interesting timing on this story, don’t you think?
I applaud the mayor for his efforts in cleaning up Aberdeen. But we need to allow the Sheriff to do his job in his jurisdiction. And part of the Mayor’s job is to work with the county sheriff’s department using joint intelligence to fix the problem. If the Aberdeen police department knows that dealers and users are using cabs to go into that area, they should be passing that information on the sheriff’s department, and letting them deal with it. As soon as the cabs come back in to Aberdeen, then they are free to use whatever tactics they deem necessary to deal with the problem in their city.
It continues to amaze me that a mayor with no law enforcement training nor military experience can even even think about giving a dedicated law enforcement professional such as Sheriff Jesse Bane advise on how to handle law enforcement matters. Mayor I understand you are good as an insurance salesman and you should stick to that. You are a walking train wreck as a law enforcement wannebe! I have known Sheriff Bane for a long time and have always known him to be a consumate professional. Mr. Mayor I believe you owe this man an apology.
You also owe your fine police department an apology for continually taking credit for all of their efforts in Aberdeen. One would think that there is no police chief in Aberdeen, just “troops” for you to command, let the professionals do their jobs!
I really don’t believe a $20 a trick Aberdeen hooker would spend $10 on cab fare to and from Perrywood Gardens when she could walk down James Street and spend the whole $20 on crack and pick up another trick in the same trip.
Fred Simmons, get the crime out of our neighborhoods before you worry about someone else’s problem.